On deck: Padres go fishing

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez throws during the first inning of an opening day baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The Associated Press

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez throws during the first inning of an opening day baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez throws during the first inning of an opening day baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (The Associated Press)

Padres (1-2) at Marlins (3-1)

Time: 4:10 p.m. | Game 1 of 3

TV: FSSD

Radio: 1090-AM; 860-AM (Spanish)

The series: The Padres enter their second series of the season hitting 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position, a line that may prove more difficult to better than you'd think. Very early, the Marlins seem to have risen from the bottom-feeders they were in 2013. With veteran additions Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Garret Jones and Casey McGehee surrounding a healthy Giancarlo Stanton, the offense probably will not average a National League-worst 3.16 runs per game, as it did last year. Meanwhile, Cy Young contender Jose Fernandez, who will face off with Andrew Cashner on Saturday, fronts a trio of starters that could be among the league's best. Last season, the Padres went 4-3 against the Marlins, the final three losses all coming in Miami.

Today's matchup

Padres LHP Eric Stults

(11-13, 3.93 ERA in 2013)

Stults is one of those pitchers who may need a bit longer to develop a favorable rhythm. The clever lefty struggled early in spring training but improved as March went on. Over his last 14 2/3 Cactus League innings, he allowed just three runs, an auspicious sign for a career journeyman who's settled in nicely with San Diego. The only Padres pitcher to throw 200 innings last season, Stults will again be counted on to go deep into starts. Lifetime against the Marlins, he's 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 24 innings. In 2013, he went 1-1 against Miami, posting a 5.40 ERA over a pair of starts.

Marlins RHP Tom Koehler

(5-10, 4.41 ERA in 2013)

The late-blooming Koehler is the senior member of Miami's rotation. At 27, he had the best spring, too, allowing three runs and a .194 average in 18 innings. His velocity was at 97 mph, and his command was improved. He started last season in Triple-A before coming up for six relief appearances and later earning a spot in the rotation. In 2013, Koehler relied primarily on a four-seam fastball and curveball, while also mixing in a slider and change-up. His only career appearance against the Padres came last May in relief; he threw two innings, yielding a walk to Everth Cabrera and an RBI double to Chase Headley.